Another day, another PM… another lectern: Rishi unveils his (shorter) podium as he addresses the country from Downing Street
- He opted for a less quirky one after Liz Truss’s was compared to a Jenga tower
- According to reports, there wasn’t enough time to craft a new lectern for the PM
- So the former Chancellor, 42, decided to use an old one with a pale wood
Rishi Sunak unveiled another lectern today as he addressd the country from Downing Street after taking over as Britain’s 57th PM.
The incoming premier opted for a less quirky podium after Liz Truss’s was compared to a Jenga tower – the block-building game which eventually collapses.
According to reports, there wasn’t enough time to craft a new lectern, so the former Chancellor, 42, decided to use an old one with a pale wood.
Being the shortest male occupant of Number 10 since Winston Churchill at just 5ft 6inches tall, the lectern was also smaller than his former boss Boris Johnson’s.
David Cameron went for a curved lectern in light-coloured varnished wood, Theresa May for a more traditional design in stained cedar wood, while Boris Johnson used a presidential style in dark wood favoured by US politicians.
New Labour, by contrast, deployed a rather down-at-heel lectern on wheels that was used by Gordon Brown and Tony Blair.
Rishi Sunak unveiled another lectern today as he addressd the country from Downing Street after taking over as Britain’s 57th PM
According to reports, there wasn’t enough time to craft a new lectern, so the former Chancellor, 42, decided to use an old one with a pale wood
David Cameron went for a curved lectern in light-coloured varnished wood, Theresa May for a more traditional design in stained cedar wood. New Labour, by contrast, deployed a rather down-at-heel lectern on wheels that was used by Gordon Brown and Tony Blair
Downing Street did not divulge how much had been spent on the lecterns, but insisted they were all used regularly.
A Government spokesman previously said: ‘Government lecterns used by Ministers are routinely updated following regular use at press conferences and speeches.’
It comes after it was reported Mr Sunak is joining the ‘under 5ft 7in club’ of European leaders.
French president Emmanuel Macron is just under 5ft 7in, Germany’s chancellor Olaf Scholz is said to be around 5ft 5 and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is only slightly taller than his German counterpart.
Mr Sunak’s predecessor as PM, Liz Truss, is around 5ft 5in, while Mr Johnson is just under 5ft 9.
Mr Sunak left Twitter users baffled yesterday when he appeared to gain an inch or two as he was cheered by party colleagues outside Tory party headquarters.
Last year, it was reported that the then PM Mr Johnson was appointing tall ministers to annoy Mr Sunak. Above: Mr Sunak as Chancellor with his fellow Treasury ministers
The image-conscious Mr Sunak is also known for positioning himself in photos so that his shorter stature is less obvious In a photo with his Treasury team in March last year, he was seen at the top of the staircase of Number 11, with taller members of his team lower down
Video showed him suddenly rising in the air as other MPs clapped around him.
Some users suggested he may have been walking backwards up some steps which gave the illusion of suddenly getting taller.
Last year, it was reported that the then PM Mr Johnson was appointing tall ministers to annoy Mr Sunak.
In his September 2021 reshuffle, he appointed 6ft 5in Simon Clarke as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
The Treasury team also included Economic Secretary John Glen, who is more than 6ft.
The image-conscious Mr Sunak is also known for positioning himself in photos so that his shorter stature is less obvious.
In a photo with his Treasury team in March last year, he was seen at the top of the staircase of Number 11, with taller members of his team lower down.
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